Extracting plants with their roots and packing the roots



s. E AcLEGG Feb' 16 1954 EXTRAGTING PnANTs wITH THEIR 2'669065 RooTs'AND PACKING THE RooTs Filed Feb. 3, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 16, 1954 s. E. cLEGG EXTRACTING PLANTS WITH THEIR 2,669,065 ROOTS AND PACKING THE ROOTS 2, Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1950 Patented Feb. 16, 1954 fsmr es PATENFI their-6settin'gfi-nl the: earth-,wandrpackngvthe mets '-.ftogether lwith I the iadherzing zfearthtzintorcompaict masses.

u @ne :bf :the objectsnofnmy .inventontiscto provide an improved =apparatuseand zmfethodgafar fipa-cking thefrootsrand `the :'earthfadheringthereto.

Y ffA "@urthermbj ect fis sto provider an .zapparatus .andfmethodf for Invacki'n'gttlcie"roots infwhiehtthe anote, l' instead of being: brought together closer fin *a bunch 7loy the ipaclfzi-n'g generation, tbe spaced .furtherfapart aA further :obj ect is :Lto 4provvide:van\.flclziprovel packaged treeorzplant.

,furth'errobjectf ofi; my: invention? isztof-.prcvide aanffiinprevedwbag forfspackagngethe roots-after l they have been Jcompre'ssedfsin'tu ra-ncompaet mass.

.li-Alfurther objectoffzmy nventioni isfto-prrovi'de :an-.improvediappanabuseandrmethdd florfextract- :.i-ng f trees rcr'japlafnts Dfrown-t-her fsetting in the :cant-h.

Further obects-.andzadvantages rnfSthe-f. invention.-.wi1lbefapparent fromslcthedescri'ption .and claims.

In v the cdrams/ings.1.1 which lnventimni-s i--llustratecL Figure 1 is a side elevationalrvfiewf.ci-` annimmoved fapparatusAfforieiccavatringzftrees nrmlants from their@ setting iin-fthe eearth';

Fig.; 5ff-is anplanwieWafoff3Fig..z1, indcatngzli'a- :grammatica-Hy .roWsA-of: trees 'which-ware tombe extracted;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thecexcaiwating ,'scocpfxor f shovelfaandtxheemdunt'ingf fthenefor;

- Eigl Qsa:verticalfaxialfsectional 1View. tot. 'appa- .16a-tus', for paekagingthe rootsfandfadheringffearth of a removed tree;

:Fig-..1 5 isffas'de elevational-wiewnf thepackaging-:apparatus:

amig. :A6 fis na"teninplanwiewaxif athe-mackag'ing apparatus;

1 '.HFig; 7: .is1af,perspectwelwiewof mfntneefshovtmg thesmootsfandz-theadheringmxndsurroundingamass ,off earth@ compressed,:intoearfcompactwcylindrical mass;

8 isi-a verticali-6am]-dseotionrshowingzanethen.iorm-ofvfapparatus ffior,v ,packag-i-rxgflroots of plants;

E g. 9 :is perepectwe"` viewaefrtheer apparatus shown Eig' 8.;

. ttnempparatus ehuwnfiinzi'g: 8.6.aa

willig. 11 .-is- ;a .perspective`r wiewzoftazbag-forgpaek- :aging fthergg-Oocls.

:For getting @the tree tout :ofirthe rgraund' eind y.retaining las "much .of 'the fdirt A whichcoriginaily .--surroun'dsthe :roo-ts 6in" its orgnalgzpcsitionawith respect to; the. roots; Iwmayf make )usewof amiece sof; apparatuswwhich is somewhat ronithe order-tof fa* manure. loader, `fori nndercntting the :rootsglifit- -ingthem-,ltogether.'withy the' dirt-1` surnoundin'gi @the roots, out of i the dirt itroughf-n: which thfeyaare lying when. c111'=andl-A removing the trees wtthe .roots and surrounding dirti ,fromathet apparatus.

.- Figs. ,I 1,-,.2, f and 8 Tare illustrative .of thislpartanf thefmethod .The .constnuction-w-shownfin these iguresv comprises, vroughly, -..a.tractor 4.,: elevated* apparatus 2 :comprising-.apar of .fcarryiingsbeams :3, shown Ainl-two,.-pcos-.iton-s ,F-igljrcckabjly .mounted a-t- 4 von the Vfrzmie of `the -ftracftor .ato :swing .fr-omi-its-Glower subterranean-scuttingmosil:131011, rshown in 11611.` lianes in Fig.. ..l, f-.fto .vitserfaised 6 superterr-anean fpositionff shoW-n-.in zfdottedfilnies. .The beamv 3- has; securedtoits-.ffront -end,giplatez5 to is perrtvanlem-tly,P for- `.-detachablvy, andandjustably, secured a channel-shaped cuttingplough .6 ,4t-see Figs. .2.and 3 ,--thefliorizontalwfwngnpory.tions 1 of which yarefsecuredffto fthezbirturcationse of .the y.plate 5. lThebeam is vraised hwahydrautlic lift :1a.

`lIn.,n.1sing :this construction, the-.laeams @ame dropped to allow .the channel-shaped. cuttereslto go .to itslowerecutting.position tand the machine is .a dvanced toundercut rand sidecut lthefrootsscf ,oneof the `trees 9, .as-shown in'zFigf. Y.The 11i-litter .beams 31eme then rasedto -moVe/thecuttewabmfe the .ground l levely 'and` .the tractor. and-.elevator beams aremanipulated tofbring .the cutteraalbome and in .engagement with aground level pant-affine terrain. .The tractori is .,then.-backed :uipeandathe rear .edge of-the cutter, which is.-also,-.shanp, :digs into theag'round. This :forces theadirt-ntcethe rear end ofr the `cutter-and fplslshesf-the?.lalantimlt .of ,thef frontend.

Referring-mow .to Figs. A f to i 7,; eincll-.lswegmhe construction shown for packing 6 roots vl-0 -r-ofnthe treefonplant comprises .a vcylinden l V'lrinto @which Athe roots of ,the :tree rare einser-ted 6 after men-kwal from `the- .grounm and a rpiston fft2:operatingnin :the cylinder ll -forfpackingthe'dirttandz mets. -The..pistony l rod yI3 is. operated. @mer means l, (not. shown) rand openates throng-h an opening- I 4 in the lower `end-.I 5 .of the cylinder-f4 6I.. .The .upper .end-..of Lthe cylinder "l l Iis-,:clcse'dffxley two fsemici-rcular.separable -..eylinderr,zhead.-ztmem- 11ers.L6whichfarepivotallyandidetahablyeseem- In using this, both of the cylinder head members It are swung away from the tree trunk, one being thus shown in Fig. 6, the piston l2 is lowered, a shovelful or two of dirt is dumped in through the upper open end of the cylinder ii onto the piston I2 as indicated at l1 in Fig. l, the roots It of the tree with the dirt clinging thereto are inserted into the cylinder, some dirt is shoveled into the open upper end of the cylinder, as shown at I8, which dirt finds its way downward onto and in-between the roots l il, and more dirt is thrown in until the cylinder is about full. The semicircular cylinder head members I5 are' then swung into place so as to embrace the tree trunk |82* Power is then applied to the piston rod i3. This pushes the whole mass inside ci the cylinder upwardly, this rnass including` the dirt, the roots, and the tree trunk. This compacts the entire mass, including the dirt in-between the roots and the dirt in the cylinder above the roots. This packing does not result in bunching the roots as in the prior art method in which the pressure is applied from the sides and tends to concentrate or bunch the roots. To remove the packed roots the cylinder head members are swung outwardly, and further pressure may be applied to lift this piston I2 higher and push the roots and dirt packed around them out of the cylinder. The tree is then ready for packaging.

If desired, a semicircular side portion is of the cylinder may be mounted to swing on hinges 2li from the closed position shown in Fig. 5 to the dotted-line position shown. This will enable the tree with the roots and the dirt packed therearound to be removed from the cylinder by sidewise movement, avoiding the necessity for moving the piston I2 up to top position, In order to hold the hinged section I9 in closed position when packing pressure is exerted, the hinged sections it of the cover may be provided with overhanging inwardly extending fiange portions 2l which will latch under the outwardly extending flange portion 22 of the swingable semicircular portion of the cylinder.

While I have described the roots of the plant j.

as having dirt clinging thereto when inserted into the cylinder, there are conditions under which most of the earth is shaken out of the roots before the roots are inserted in the cylinder. For example, if plants or trees are to be shipped a substantial distance before having their roots packaged, the expense of transportation may be lessened considerably by shaking out most of the dirt from the roots before shipping. When these are received at the packaging plant enough earth is shoveled into the cylinder among and around the roots to provide ample packaging material.

In the packaging apparatus shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the cylinder 23 is made in two semicylindrical portions 24 and 25, hinged together at their lower ends as indicated at 26, so that they will swing away from each other into the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 8 about a transverse axis extending diametrically of the bottom 2'! of the cylinder. The piston means which operate in this cylinder 23 are moved downwardly to pack the earth around the roots. The piston means comprise two semicircular piston members 2d and 2B which operate on opposite sides of the trunk 32 of the tree or plant. Any suitable means are provided for operating the piston rods 3d and 3l in synchronism. The arcuate piston members are provided with arcuate recesses 32 to provide clearance for the trunk of the tree in the up-anddown movement of the piston. If desired, means may be provided whereby the roots may be bagged at the same time they are being packed. For this purpose, I provide an annular supporting member 33 for the upper end of the bag 3d, secured in xed relation with respect to the cylinder and provided with circumferentially spaced fastening pins or elements 35 to which the upper edge of the bag may be secured. The bag 3l! itself extends downwardly into the cylinder and may be made to t snugly thereagainst in any suitable manner.

In using this device, the cylinder is placed in the position shown in full lines (shown in Fig. 8) the latches 35 are fastened in order to secure the semicylindrical portions in engagement with each other, a bag all is inserted into the cylinder, its upper edges are secured to the annular support 33, and the bag 34 is secured on the pins 35 and is fitted smoothly against the inside surface of the cylinder 23. Some dirt is dumped into the upper end of the cylinder, passes down below the piston members 23 and 29, and finds its way to the bottom of the cylinder, the roots of the tree are inserted into the cylinder, the piston members being drawn upwardly sufiiciently to enable this to be done, more dirt is then thrown into the cylinder on top and around the sides of the roots, and the piston members are then brought down to pack the earth around the roots.

To remove the roots, packaged earth, and the bag in which the roots and earth are packed, the latches 3&3 are released to enable the semicylin.- drical portions lill and 25 of the cylinder to be swung about the axis from the full-line position to the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 8. The roots, packaged earth, and surrounding bag may then be removed from the packaging apparatus.

As shown in Fig. 11, the bag 34 may be made of two sheets of fabric 38 and 3S. The first sheet is generally rectangular and is wrapped around into cylindrical form, the overlapping edges being stitched or otherwise secured together as shown at fill. The upper edges of this cylindrical sheet may be stretched or flanged outwardly as shown at 4l so that they can hook over the pins 35 of the annular support 33. The bottom of the bag is formed by a circular sheet 3d of fabric having its peripheral edge secured as by stitching to the lower circular edge of the cylindrical sheet of fabric, as shown at 42.

Where the word plant is used in the claims, it is to be understood broadly as covering trees, shrubs, Vines, etc. Where the word earth is used in the claims, it is to be understood broadly as covering any material suitable for packing around roots.

Further modications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is desired, therefore, that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section into which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure for one end of the container embracing the trunk of the plant, and a piston in said container having relative movement with respect thereto longitudinally of the axis of the trunk for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston and closure.

, 2. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section into which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure for one end of the container embracing the trunk of the plant, and a piston in said container having relative movement with respect thereto longitudinally of the axis of the trunk for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston and closure, said closure being made in separable sections readily movable away from the trunk to enable the removal of the tree and the compact mass from the container and insertion of the roots of the plant and the adhering earth into the container.

3. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section into which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure for one end of the container embracing the trunk of the plant, and a piston in said container having relative movement with respect thereto longitudinally of the axis of the trunk for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston and closure, said closure being made in separable sections readily movable away from the trunk to enable the removal of the tree and the compactmass from the container and insertion of the roots of the plant and the adhering earth into the container, said sections being hinged to swing laterally away from said trunk.

4. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section into which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure for one end of the container embracing the trunk of the plant, and a piston in said container having relative movement with respect thereto longitudinally of the axis of the trunk for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston and closure, said container having a side section readily movable away from the rest of the container to enable the trunk to be removed sidewise from the container.

5. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section into which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure for one end of the container embracing the trunk of the plant, and a piston in said container having relative movement with respect thereto longitudinally of the axis of the trunk for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston and closure, said closure being made in separable sections readily movable away from the trunk to enable the removal of the tree and the compact mass from the container and insertion of the roots of the plant and the adhering earth into the container, said container having a side section readily movable away from the rest of the container to enable the trunk to be removed sidewise from the container.

6. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section vinto which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure for one end of the container embracing the trunk of the plant, and a piston in said container having relative movement with respect thereto longitudinally of the axis of the trunk for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston and closure, said closure being made in separable sections readily movable away from the trunk to enable the removal of the tree and the compact mass from the container and insertion of the roots of the plant and the adhering earth into the container, said container having a side section readily movable away from the rest of the container to enable the tree to be removed sidewise from the container, said closure sections having means for holding said side section against movement.

7. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section into which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure means for one end of the container, and piston means in said container having relative movement with respect thereto toward and from said closure means for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston means and closure means, one of said means having an opening through which the trunk of the plant extends.

8. Apparatus for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass comprising a container of substantially uniform cross section into which the roots and earth are introduced, a closure for one end of the container, and piston means in said container having relative movement with respect thereto for compressing the roots and earth within the container between said piston means and closure, said piston means having an opening through which the trunk of the plant extends.

9. A method for compressing the roots of an extracted plant, together with the earth between and surrounding the roots, into a compact mass which comprises conning the roots and the earth between and surrounding the roots against extreme lateral movement away from the axis of the trunk of the plant, restraining the upper surface of the roots and earth against movement longitudinally of the trunk and exerting pressure axially of the trunk on the lower surface of the confined roots and earth to compress them axially and spread them radially.

SAMUEL E. CLEGG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 42,391 Milo Apr. 19, 1864 357,698 Burrough Feb. 15, 1887 586,485 Guyn July 13, 1897 1,129,924 Von Hassel Mar. 2, 1915 1,664,913 Bewley Apr. 3, 1928 1,689,017 Fewkes Oct. 23, 1928 1,708,752 Caras Apr. 9, 1929 1,964,689 Quillen et al June 26, 1934 2,112,872 Wilson Apr. 5, 1938 2,219,690 Leydecker Oct. 29, 1940 2,243,955 Gwathmey et al. June 3, 1941 2,410,203 Culley Oct. 29, 1946 2,506,662 Cusenbary May 9, 1950 2,508,284 Oliver May 16, 1950 

